Book Description

That's A Crazy One is an inside look at the youth culture that dominated downtown NYC in the early 1990's. That same culture that helped spark the multi-million dollar industries of skateboarding and streetwear that exist now. The subjects were the inspiration for Larry Clark's cult classic film KIDS. In stark contrast to the storyline told in the film,it is the true capture of what life was like for the cast of KIDS prior to the film being made and released. Photographed by Mel Stones & High throughout 1991-1995, the two teenage girls used NYC public school darkrooms to develop and print these images. Shot by insiders, That's A Crazy One is a rare archival portrait of early NYC street skating and the intimate relationships that existed between this crew of kids. Shot in low light on 35mm film pushed to the max, the images are grainy and gritty and bring you back to Pre-Giuliani New York rawness. That's a Crazy One features images that run a wide gamut, from kids sleeping on the train, skateboarding through the streets, smoking weed and drinking 40's, to the abandoned buildings and roof that were their playgrounds. However it is the dedication of the book that sets the tone for the images that follow. Once read, you realize that many of the kids on these pages are no longer among the living. Often mistaken as a documentary film, KIDS left an aftershock amongst this group of teenagers long after the limelight faded, with no solid foundation many met tragic ends. These lives so superficially portrayed on screen were genuinely struggling and that struggle materialized in the deaths of many of them. The images evoke the painful truth of how one can feel alone and together at the same time.Too painful to face their losses, these images have remained archived for over 20 years. That's A Crazy One takes you through their cathartic journey. All profits from book sales will be donated to NYC Public Schools Photography Program in memorial to their departed.